Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-04

m@ and skill displayed IN their strange
ment. 4 master hand IS shown in it all,
aud if the visitor happens TO stroll into
the second story Of the institute and to-
ward the north end of the binding, it is
more than likely, if the time he in the
afternoon, that he will see TIE gentleman
vino is eepC8S;ble Tor most Of the order.
lie will mud the Professor in room that
is rather bare Of furniture and ornament,
but 1t looks like work. In corner at a
desk covered with books and pa
pers you will perhaps had Secretary
Baird. Near the widow is 3 big table,
within reach # which j. aD electric key
board, ~ which the occupant can call to
him any officer or clerk in the immense
building. There are time-SaYing 6ppara-
fuses all about, and everything that
science has done 10 lengthen the Gay is in
use. In this big, bare room, with its
batteries and wires, its books and papers,
the Professor SPENDS two or three hours
every day, attending to certain kinds of
correspondence and receiving visitors.
But this is not his workshop or his study:
you Will find that at his residence on
Massachusetts, avenue.
The house IN which the scientist lives
is not g very elegant one, but it is 81 u
ated in n very fashionable locality. Stand
ing on the little porch waiting for our
knock 10 be answered we can see the resi-
CenCes of Secretary Baysrd. whici is only
few doors below, OK Senators Morrill,,
Allison and Payne, and of Justice Miller
It Is one If the most desira DE neighbor
hoods of the capital, and within = rcuit
ut quarter of a mil can be found the res
licences Of hundreds IF public men. The
house is of bIiLk, three stories and q
basement high, with bay window OF
good dimensions running up tne front.
I here IS also marSard root and a llrga
thermometer lpS 10 MAKE lle hnr-c mo-
ticeabsc.
The visitor Is usnered into p.ettlly
furnished P4rlor at tie lefs. From lnis
vautege he can h&ve & good view OF the
rooms Of the house on this floor, As they
are all connected by folding doors. The
prospect is not great or ric1, but it is q
model interior for & man in comfortable
circumstances and Of refined tastes.
The parlor is furnished with modern
furniture, and there are scores of etch-
inGs and paintings and photographs
on the walls. Ga the stands are rare
little articles of brio brac gathered
here and there and everywhere in pedeS-
train tours over the country and IN con-
tinental travel. Next to the paIlor is the
library, and it is very much like the
former room eEc'p. for the bookcases
reaching to the ceiling. The books are
for the most part of a literSry character.
though here and there pOnderous work
looks out al US from between the dainty
volumes in blae snd gold. Beyond is the
morning room, and in the rear OF that is
the hospltable dining room, with its
splendldly carved tables and sideboards.
We take cogniZanCe of these surround
ings while waiting for Professor Baird,
and now his rather pondercus tread is
heard upon the stairs. He enters the
library with hand extended out to you
and welcome smile from MS intellectual
face and bright penetrating eyes. over
six ct high, broad shoulders, heavy set
and altogether massive, he is not by any
means an ordinary appearing man. Yet
few people you meet on the street could
tell you who be was. Very likely they
would not be asked, for he is not a man
VINO would cause remark on account of his
personal appearance. He is careless in his
dress, and sbuiks about the capital with
his gray suit and SLOUGH hat, looking
more like Virginia farmer than one of
the foremost Of American scientists. He
rarely notices his surroundings, and Will
pass mis- most intimate friends on the
street without sign of recognition. His
thoughts are no doubt far away curing
these moments of preoccupation. He is
perhaps thinking OF some new scientific
discovery, or discovery is in process of
formation in his ever active Brain But
he is not always absent minded, for in5
bis socia! and business intercourse he as
one of the most agreeable of gentle,aes,
nnd his Conversation is Sizgalarly fasci
mating. 81
We of the crest world ere not strictly
speaking scientific people. We are slow |
to recognize oar great thinkers on every
subject, unless the results OF their en-
ieevors are put before Us in the most |
popular manner. Every one knows or
ought to know, that the most eminent of
,ur poets, scientists, inventors and
hinkers were fist brought to the at.en-
ion of tie world by other people than
ourselves. We are SO busy in the rush
fter the almighty dollar that we are in
lined to undeIvalue the work of men
Yho hare come from our midst. It is